Study: More than $740 billion to be transacted in self-service kiosks for 2010

July 12, 2010

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Franklin, Tenn. Transactions at self-service kiosks will surpass $740 billion in 2010, but the rate of growth going forward may be tempered in favor of enabling consumer smartphones in the future, according to a new research study conducted by the IHL Group.

"Self-service continues to grow, and clearly DVD kiosks are driving huge increases in the number of units in the market. However, the rise of consumer mobile devices will have an adverse effect on many new kiosk installations within the next two years," said Greg Buzek, president of the IHL Group, an analyst firm and consultancy that serves retailers and retail technology vendors.

According to Buzek, information kiosks soon will give way to the kiosk in the consumer’s pocket, with many consumers already doing price comparison shopping and reading reviews while at the shelf.

“In addition, what is particularly interesting looking forward is that Apple has patents in loyalty and payment technologies,” Buzek said. “It is foreseeable that transactions even in the retail environment could be scanned and transacted through the mobile device rather than a stationary self-checkout.”

In the market study, 2010 North American Self-Service Kiosks, IHL examined the increasing use of six types of self-service kiosks where payment is accepted: self-checkout systems, ticketing kiosks, check-in kiosks, food ordering, postal and other retail kiosks.

The report covers self-service kiosks in the United States and Canada, detailing the number and type of kiosks shipped historically. It also provides forecasts for each type of kiosk, both in terms of units shipped and revenue transacted. In addition, the report highlights best practices and best-in-class machines for each class of kiosk.